That's 98 percent more viewers than MSNBC usually draws this year on aSaturday afternoon, but just slightly above its prime-time average.

Even if Savage held back his more controversial views, some advocacy groupsare still railing against his show.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation contended that NBC News executiveswere forced to put strict controls on Savage for his premiere.

"Clearly, they fear that without these controls, he will revert to the typesof bombastic, inflammatory diatribes targeting minorities upon which he builthis reputation," GLAAD executive director Joan M. Garry said in a prepared statement.

GLAAD said this week that it has abandoned attempts to meet with MSNBC and NBC Newsexecutivess.

The alliance added that network executives wanted to bar the group from discussing the meetingwith "our constituents, our coalition partners, or the media."

Groups including GLAAD -- which contended that Savage attacks "women, people ofcolor, immigrants and the lesbian and gay community" -- and the NationalOrganization of Women are also pressing for advertisers to boycott theshow.

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